Guy Ritchie is no longer going to direct Road House 2, the upcoming sequel to Amazon MGM’s reboot of the cult 1989 action film. With cameras scheduled to roll in September, the sudden vacancy at the top leaves a key piece of the puzzle unresolved.
As first reported by Variety, the reasons behind Ritchie’s departure haven’t been made public. He was expected to reunite with Jake Gyllenhaal, reprising his role as Dalton, a former UFC fighter-turned-bar-bouncer caught in a spiral of small-town violence. With Road House becoming a major streaming win for Amazon, the sequel has been in the works since the studio announced development plans last summer.
Will Beall, whose recent credits include Bad Boys: Ride or Die and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, is handling the screenplay. Plot details remain tightly under wraps. The production team features Charles Roven and Alex Gartner of Atlas Entertainment, alongside Gyllenhaal and Josh McLaughlin for Nine Stories Productions. Dave Bautista had reportedly been circling a role, but it’s unclear how the change in director might shake up casting.
The first Road House reboot premiered on Prime Video in March 2024 and became a streaming hit for the powerhouse. Amazon MGM claimed the film drew nearly 80 million global viewers within eight weeks. As former studio chief Jennifer Salke put it, the film was “the most-watched produced film debut ever on a worldwide basis.”
Not everyone was pleased. Director Doug Liman, who helmed the first reboot, voiced his dissatisfaction with the film’s streaming-only release and even claimed he was not paid his full salary. He argued the project was originally meant for theatrical release before Amazon’s acquisition of MGM shifted the distribution strategy.
Ritchie’s exit adds another twist to the behind-the-scenes saga. The director, known for titles like The Gentlemen, and Fountain of Youth, had previously worked with Gyllenhaal on The Covenant and the upcoming In the Grey. Amazon seem to be having trouble keeping directors happy, another clash looks a real possibility as the search for a new director starts today.
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